Improved mode for breasting heels



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IV. H. PITKIN, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

IMPROVED MODE FOR BREASTING HEELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 41.453, dated September27, 1864.

which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecification, in Which- Figure l is a sectional side elevation of thisinvention. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the saine.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention consists in the employment or use for breasting heels ofboots and shoes of a vertically-sliding frame or gate carrying a knifeand a guard, and connected to a treadle in such a mannerthat bydepressingthe treadle the knife is caused to descend and the operationof breasting a heel is effected with cornparatively little bodilyexertion, and by the guard the knife is prevented from cutting-anydeeper than desirable and from injuring the sole.

The invention consists also in a longitudinally-sliding adjustable jackto receive the boots and shoes, in combination with thevertically-sliding reciprocating knife, in such a manner that boots orshoes of different def scription can be readily adjusted on the jack andexposed to the action of the knife with.

little loss of time and labor.

A represents a table made of wood or any other suitable material andsupported by legs B at a convenient height above the ground. From theupper surface of this table rise two uprights, (l, which form the guidesfor the gate or carriage D, to which the knife E is firmly secured bymeans of screws c, or in any other convenient manner so that it can bereadily taken oft' and sharpened, and that it can be adjusted up anddown to cut to the desired depth. The depth to which the knife isallowed to cutis governed by theguard F, which is secured to the gate Don the side opposite the knife, as clearly shown in Fig. l of thedrawings. Said gate connects by means of rods b b, crossbar c, andpitrnan d with a treadle e, which is arranged below the table A, andsprings f are placed round the rod b, so that when, by the action of thetreadle, the gate has been depressed it will be carried back to itsoriginal position by the action of the springs as soon as the treadle isrelieved. The boots or shoes vthe heels of which are to be breasted aresecured to the jack G, which slides backward and forward on rails H,secured to the surface of the table A. Said jack is composed of ananvil, g, which oscillates on a pivot, Ir, that has its bearings in lugsi, rising from tue bed plate of the jack. Said anvil is provided with astud extending upward into the last of the boot or shoe to be acted on,and an arm or lever, j, serves to hold the toe part ot' the last or shoedown upon the supporter k. This supporter is adjustable backward andforward in slotted standards l, rising from the body of the jack, andthe lever j is held down by an elastic clasp, m, so that the same can bereadily released whenever it may be desirable. By this arrangement I amenabled to secure boots or shoes of different size to the same jack withthe greatest ease. After a boot or shoe has been adjusted on the jack,it is pushed under the knife and the carriage D is depressed. The knifein descending faces the heel, and the guard by striking the soleprevents the knife from cutting down into the sole. By this arrangementthe oper ation of breastin g heels can be performed with the greatestease and facility. It requires but very little bodily exertion tooperate the treadle and to move the jack backward or forward on thetrack, and one cut of the knife is sufficient to produce the desiredeffect.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. Thevertically-sliding gate D, with knife E and guard F, constructed andoperating in the manner and for the purpose substantially as hereinshown and described.

2. Thelongitudinallysliding adjustable jack G, in combina-tion with theverticallysliding reciprocating knife E, constructed and operatingsubstantially as and for the purpose set forth.

W. H. PITKIN.

Witnesses:

HENRY W. TABOR, EBEN J. BLANE.

